Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Donation Skyrockets to $20 Million with Melinda French Gates Match!
Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival has successfully raised $20 million for women's charities, thanks to a major donation from Melinda French Gates. French Gates doubled the festival's initial $10 million, inspired by Rodrigo's vision to empower women and girls through partner organizations. The event featured a star-studded lineup of artists who performed for free.
Olivia Rodrigo's inaugural all-women music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, received a significant financial boost thanks to a multimillion-dollar donation from Melinda French Gates. The festival, which first announced on Friday, August 28, that it had successfully raised $10 million for various women's charities, saw this amount double to an impressive $20 million following French Gates' generous contribution.
Melinda French Gates, expressing her inspiration from Rodrigo's vision, confirmed her $10 million pledge through Pivotal Ventures. She shared on Instagram, alongside a photo with Rodrigo, that she was proud to double the extraordinary amount already raised by the community for organizations dedicated to supporting women and girls, emphasizing that "What @daisychainfields set in motion will last far beyond a single night."
During her headlining performance on Saturday night, August 29, at Great Park in Irvine, California, the 23-year-old pop star welcomed French Gates to the stage to make the momentous announcement. Rodrigo lauded French Gates as one of the most inspiring women she had ever met, highlighting her dedication to empowering women and girls who might otherwise be overlooked. Rodrigo praised French Gates as generous, brave, and someone who has done immense good in the world, expressing her gratitude for the philanthropist's decision to double every dollar raised by the festival.
The initial $10 million raised by Daisy Chain Fields is set to benefit a diverse group of partner organizations. These include Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center, and Planned Parenthood. Rodrigo had previously disclosed the festival's fundraising success during a press conference on Friday.
In addition to the financial triumph, Rodrigo also acknowledged the artists who performed at the festival, thanking them for contributing their sets for free. The lineup, personally curated by Rodrigo, featured prominent acts such as Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders, and Bikini Kill, alongside special guest appearances by music icons Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan.